The impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care: results from an online survey of Canadian adults 50 years and older
Abstract Background Influenza is associated with a decline in functional abilities among Canadian older adults, although specific impacts on daily life have not been fully explored. Methods In August 2019 and May 2020, we conducted surveys of Canadian adults 50-64 years and 65 years and older throug...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14581-z |
| _version_ | 1811219418066190336 |
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| author | Nancy M. Waite Jennifer A. Pereira Sherilyn K. D. Houle Vladimir Gilca Melissa K. Andrew |
| author_facet | Nancy M. Waite Jennifer A. Pereira Sherilyn K. D. Houle Vladimir Gilca Melissa K. Andrew |
| author_sort | Nancy M. Waite |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Influenza is associated with a decline in functional abilities among Canadian older adults, although specific impacts on daily life have not been fully explored. Methods In August 2019 and May 2020, we conducted surveys of Canadian adults 50-64 years and 65 years and older through an online market research platform. The survey included questions about the impact of diagnosed influenza or self-reported influenza-like-illness (ILI) on working, volunteering and caregiving. Results We surveyed 1006 adults in the 50-64 year age group about the 2018/19 season and 1001 about the 2019/20 season. In the 65 years and older age group, we surveyed 3548 and 3500 individuals about the 2018/19 and 2019/20 influenza seasons, respectively. In each season, nearly two-thirds of individuals 50-64 years with influenza/ILI were employed; 51.7% reported absenteeism in 2018/19 and 53.6% in 2019/20. Of the 20% of individuals 65 years and older who were employed, 47.0% of those with influenza/ILI were absent while ill in 2018/19 (39.8% in 2019/20). In 2018/2019, 29.6% of respondents 50-64 years old with influenza/ILI identified as volunteers (29.3% in 2019/2020). In both seasons, nearly half were unable to do so while ill. Of the 164 (32.7%) individuals 65 years and older who volunteered during the 2018/19 season, 80 (48.8%) did not while ill; 224 (37.3%) respondents volunteered in the 2019/20 season, and half were absent while ill. Of those 50-64 years with influenza/ILI, 97 (42.2%) and 57 (22.2%) were caregivers in 2018/19 and 2019/20, respectively. In 2018/19 and 2019/20, 40 (41.2%) and 28 (49.1%) caregivers were unable to provide care when ill, respectively. Of those with influenza/ILI in the 65 years and older age group, 123 (24.6%) and 162 (27.0%) were caregivers in 2018/19 and 2019/20, respectively. In 2018/19, 18 (14.6%) caregivers with influenza/ILI did not provide care while ill (42 [25.9%] in 2019/20). Discussion In Canadian older adults, influenza and ILI had notable impacts on ability to volunteer and provide care across two recent seasons. Optimization of influenza prevention in this population may yield important societal benefits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:25:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e89c7757415743c8b3b4a15844c672ba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:25:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e89c7757415743c8b3b4a15844c672ba2022-12-22T03:42:12ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-11-012211910.1186/s12889-022-14581-zThe impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care: results from an online survey of Canadian adults 50 years and olderNancy M. Waite0Jennifer A. Pereira1Sherilyn K. D. Houle2Vladimir Gilca3Melissa K. Andrew4School of Pharmacy, University of WaterlooJRL Research & Consulting Inc.School of Pharmacy, University of WaterlooInstitut national de santé publique du Québec, Laval UniversityDepartment of Medicine (Geriatrics), Dalhousie UniversityAbstract Background Influenza is associated with a decline in functional abilities among Canadian older adults, although specific impacts on daily life have not been fully explored. Methods In August 2019 and May 2020, we conducted surveys of Canadian adults 50-64 years and 65 years and older through an online market research platform. The survey included questions about the impact of diagnosed influenza or self-reported influenza-like-illness (ILI) on working, volunteering and caregiving. Results We surveyed 1006 adults in the 50-64 year age group about the 2018/19 season and 1001 about the 2019/20 season. In the 65 years and older age group, we surveyed 3548 and 3500 individuals about the 2018/19 and 2019/20 influenza seasons, respectively. In each season, nearly two-thirds of individuals 50-64 years with influenza/ILI were employed; 51.7% reported absenteeism in 2018/19 and 53.6% in 2019/20. Of the 20% of individuals 65 years and older who were employed, 47.0% of those with influenza/ILI were absent while ill in 2018/19 (39.8% in 2019/20). In 2018/2019, 29.6% of respondents 50-64 years old with influenza/ILI identified as volunteers (29.3% in 2019/2020). In both seasons, nearly half were unable to do so while ill. Of the 164 (32.7%) individuals 65 years and older who volunteered during the 2018/19 season, 80 (48.8%) did not while ill; 224 (37.3%) respondents volunteered in the 2019/20 season, and half were absent while ill. Of those 50-64 years with influenza/ILI, 97 (42.2%) and 57 (22.2%) were caregivers in 2018/19 and 2019/20, respectively. In 2018/19 and 2019/20, 40 (41.2%) and 28 (49.1%) caregivers were unable to provide care when ill, respectively. Of those with influenza/ILI in the 65 years and older age group, 123 (24.6%) and 162 (27.0%) were caregivers in 2018/19 and 2019/20, respectively. In 2018/19, 18 (14.6%) caregivers with influenza/ILI did not provide care while ill (42 [25.9%] in 2019/20). Discussion In Canadian older adults, influenza and ILI had notable impacts on ability to volunteer and provide care across two recent seasons. Optimization of influenza prevention in this population may yield important societal benefits.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14581-zInfluenzaOlder adultsWorkVolunteerCaregiver |
| spellingShingle | Nancy M. Waite Jennifer A. Pereira Sherilyn K. D. Houle Vladimir Gilca Melissa K. Andrew The impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care: results from an online survey of Canadian adults 50 years and older BMC Public Health Influenza Older adults Work Volunteer Caregiver |
| title | The impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care: results from an online survey of Canadian adults 50 years and older |
| title_full | The impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care: results from an online survey of Canadian adults 50 years and older |
| title_fullStr | The impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care: results from an online survey of Canadian adults 50 years and older |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care: results from an online survey of Canadian adults 50 years and older |
| title_short | The impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care: results from an online survey of Canadian adults 50 years and older |
| title_sort | impact of influenza on the ability to work volunteer and provide care results from an online survey of canadian adults 50 years and older |
| topic | Influenza Older adults Work Volunteer Caregiver |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14581-z |
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